Leh freezes at minus 12.4 degrees Celsius

The temperature dipped to a bone-chilling minus 12.4 degrees Celsius in Leh town Tuesday as the mercury dipped below freezing point across the Kashmir Valley as well.

The local weather office forecast moderate to heavy snowfall in the Valley between Dec 13 and 15.

"Moderate to rather heavy snowfall is likely to occur in the Valley and the hills of the Jammu region on 13th, 14th and 15th of this month," A.R. Zargar, deputy director of the local weather office, told IANS.

He also advised caution while travelling on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and other places connected through high altitude passes.

Leh town recorded its lowest temperature of the season with the temperature dipping to minus 12.4 degrees. People remained indoors in the town to avoid frostbite. All hydroelectric power generating units in Ladakh region have been shut because water in all reservoirs of these power projects has frozen.

Diesel generating sets have been pressed into service to provide electricity to the residents in Leh town and other places of the region.

The minimum temperature today was minus 1.7 in Srinagar, minus 2.2 in Pahalgam, minus 7.5 in Gulmarg and minus 7.8 in Kargil town of Ladakh region.